I was provided by the producer with a copy of the Old Fashioned DVD to facilitate my review.  As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I really wanted to see Old Fashioned when it came out in movie theaters on Valentine’s Day, but I missed it because I was sick.  So I was really excited to get to review it for you now that it’s coming out on DVD.  The quality of the production is good.  As far as the story is concerned, it’s…quirky.

Old Fashioned is…A Little Odd

The movie is good, but it isn’t what I expected.  Before I go any farther, I need to get one thing out of the way: Old Fashioned is not a representation of typical “courtship” practices.  I don’t want anyone to watch the movie and get the wrong idea, because I honestly found it a little weird.  Some of the same principles are there, but the main character’s specific applications of them are definitely quirky.

All of which is to say that if you had expectations of seeing a typical “modern courtship” played out, you probably need to set those expectations aside.  Just come to the story with the understanding that this is one couple’s story, with all of its flaws and imperfections together with its strengths, and you can appreciate the quirks as part of the story’s character.

But It’s a Good Story

In case you haven’t heard much about the story, here’s the gist.  A young woman moves into town and rents the small apartment above the antique shop Clay owns.  Clay has turned from a rather “wild” past and, in the process, come up with certain “theories” on love and certain rules for himself to avoid temptation.  Amber, on the other hand, is a free spirit who’s a bit jaded.

As I’m sure you can probably guess, the two forge a relationship throughout the course of the story, and this relationship is riddled with many of the usual pitfalls: misunderstandings, struggles to come to agreement, personality differences, etc.

It Isn’t the Way I Would Have Done It

Clay doesn’t go about the things the way I would have.  Some of his principles are quite sound.  Others are a bit tangled up in emotional/spiritual baggage.  He waits longer than necessary or keeps his boundaries broader than necessary in some areas, in my opinion, while jumping ahead in other areas.  I just can’t get around the idea of “odd” or “quirky.”

I also have some concerns about the fact that Clay appears to be a believer, but he seems to pursue a relationship with a young woman who isn’t, yet, and he doesn’t have a lot of fellowship with other believers.  In real life I would consider both of those red flags.

On the other hand, he holds fast to his values even when those around him are all mocking, and even when it takes a bit of convincing to get the girl on board.

In short, it raises a lot of questions. Especially if you’re watching with the family, there will be plenty of opportunity to talk through issues and clarify your own values.  I think that was intentional on the part of the writers.  It also does a pretty good job of portraying the “raw, real life” kinds of situations we might sometimes find ourselves in.  Not everything comes all packaged up tidily and tied with a bow.  And despite my earlier warning that this doesn’t really represent a “typical modern courtship,” when it really comes down to it, there’s no such thing as a “typical” courtship.  Every story is different.

The Romance is in the Unique

In fact, what struck me as the story was wrapping up was the fact that it is that very uniqueness that makes our stories beautiful.  Our stories are romantic precisely because they’re our stories.  It is the quirks and nuances of every individual couple’s time together that adds the romance.  The pet names that have their own unique origins.  The new words you somehow made up along the way that are literally meaningless to anyone but the two of you.  The things that are important or meaningful to one partner, recollected by and acted on by the other.

When attentiveness and love are added to these things, small gestures can carry great meaning.  The fond use of pet names and made-up vocabulary can create a sense of belonging.  And all of it together communicates to each partner that he is cherished by the other.

So sure, some of our stories may be quirky or strange.  But they’re our stories, and the very fact that each story is unique to only one couple, is what makes them beautiful and priceless.

View the Trailer:

Old Fashioned comes out on DVD today, and is:
115 minutes
PG-13